Back in May, Men In Black 3 director Barry Sonnenfeld pique some serious speculation, announcing, “You know, I’m talking to Warner Bros about doing a franchise based on a comic that hasn’t been around since the Sixties. But it’s too early to talk about it. But possibly, yes.”

According to Vulture, Barry Sonnenfeld’s mystery DC superhero project for Warner Bros is The Metal Men.

Not quite the Justice League, The Metal Men are a bizarre family of robots themed around, and apparently manufactured from, the major metals – Iron is super-strong, Gold is the leader etc – and created by the paternal, pipe-smoking Doctor Will Magnus.

While it’s not accurate to say they haven’t been around since the Sixties – Will Magnus was a major player in DC’s groundbreaking 52 weekly mega-event – even popping up in the brilliant Batman: The Brave And The Bold animated series, but they’re not exactly cornerstones of the DC Universe.

That said, Men In Black wasn’t a particularly well known comic before Barry Sonnefeld got his hands on it…